A joint online panel by Turkish and Pakistani NGOs discussed on Saturdaythe Israeli aggression against residents of the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli Aggression in Gaza and the Plight of the Palestinians panel wasorganized by Istanbul-based ILKE Foundation for Science Culture andEducation and the Islamabad-based Institute of Policy Studies think-tank.
Panelists from three countries included Palestinian-American author andjournalist Ramzy Baroud, Pakistani politician Mushahid Hussain Syed andChairman of Institute of Policy Studies Khalid Rahman. The discussion wasmoderated by Istanbul-based academician and researcher Ahsan Shafiq fromthe ILKE Foundation.
“I have lately been writing articles for some magazines and newspapers inPakistan and I was told to make a case why Pakistan should not benormalizing with Israel,” according to Baroud, who noted US pressure ondifferent countries, including Pakistan, to recognize Israel.
He thanked Pakistan for not recognizing Israel despite intense pressure andasserted that Palestine is not just an issue for Muslims but Muslims arethe core to the place.
Syed said Israel should be tried for committing war crimes against humanityfor what it has done as he highlighted the importance of pragmatic steps toend the plight of Palestinian Muslims and lifting the blockade on the GazaStrip, especially by sending humanitarian aid through a joint flotilla withseveral countries.
Touching on Pakistan’s policy with Israel, he said: “Its policy on Israelhas not been enunciated by any party or any government, but the founder ofPakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, popular as Quaid-e-Azam, or the greatleader.”
Pakistan was the only non-Arab Muslim country whose pilots went and foughtagainst Israel in two Arab-Israel wars, he said.
He praised Turkey’s president for taking the lead. “President Recep TayyipErdogan has shown guts and vision and Pakistan has also joined hands withTurkey.”
“I would also like to salute the leadership of Hamas which has taken a verystrong position and for firing 3,000 plus rockets despite relentless aerialbombing by Israel,” he said.